Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Avid rebuild   

    Got my flaperons rigged today. Took a while to get the flaps right. Someone set them up so that rather than have a bolt to stop the handle, the handle would hit the frame and the lower half of it was practically in the bungees. I readjusted it so it stops much earlier. Set them at -2 level and 15 degrees of flap. I was a little concerned at how far out I had the screw ends with the new bellcranks. I think I only had like 5 or 6 turns of threads left on the new arms.
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  2. dholly added a post in a topic Wheel alignment   

    Wife and (3) kids!
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  3. bmcj added a post in a topic Wheel alignment   

    Is this a truss gear or the solid aluminum (grove-style) gear?  If the solid aluminum, have you ever considered just turning the gear around? toe-in becomes toe-out.   

    Bruce  :D
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  4. jackak added a post in a topic Wheel alignment   

    Thanks for the feedback.  Looks like I need to get a longer cheater bar, the strap isn't working.  Doug, what did you fasten your fuselage to when you used the 8' pipe?  I can see me dragging the fuselage all over the garage with a pipe that long.  Probably great for laughs if you were watching.
    Thanks,
    Jack
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  5. Bandit added a post in a topic Wheel alignment   

    That is for sure.
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  6. skysailor added a post in a topic Weighing question   

    My understanding is that if you are doing a "weight & balance" (W&B) the aircraft must be in a "level" position according to specific directions provided by the designer.  Keeping in mind that when you weigh one wheel (tail, nose or main) you must keep all the other gear at the same elevation to eliminate any error.  So, if you are going to use the tail wheel weight in a calculation such as W&B then you must level the aircraft so that you measure the proper distribution of weight.  If all you are doing is tracking the weight at the tail then putting a scale under it will allow you to read within a certain margin of error any gross changes in tail weight.  But to be accurate it should always be in the very same orientation with regard to its elevation versus the elevation of the other gear.   
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  7. C5Engineer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Weighing question
    Does the tailwheel need to be leveled when weighing the tail? I know it does to measure the arm but does it make a difference for just determining the wheel weight of the tail?
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  8. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Wheel alignment   

    There is a ridiculously long discussion on the Yahoo list right now about toe in vs toe out.
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  9. dholly added a post in a topic Wheel alignment   

    That's interesting Jack, I haven't checked mine yet. It sounds like the W.I.B. gear flexes a lot more than the standard gear before it 'resets'. I just slipped a 8' pipe over my Mk-IV axles, then a larger dia. over that for stiffness and bent away. I was shooting for 1/8" out, pretty easy. In addition to measuring wheel-to-wheel front and back toe-in, I also double checked straight ahead tracking. Used a laser level and projected the fuse center line forward to the wall, then made sure the laser clamped to each brake plate projected the same distance each side from the center mark. Didn't want to end up crabbing down the taxi way lol.  [
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  10. MagicOPromotion added a post in a topic A real soldier   

    Who is your real friend?

    This really works...If you dont believe it, just try this experiment.

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    Lock your dog and your wife in the trunk of your car for an hour.

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    When you open the trunk, which one is really happy to see you??
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  11. jackak added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Wheel alignment
    Airdale wide gear users,
    Anyone done an alignment check and needed to adjust toe-in or toe-out?  I checked mine the other day and found the gear to be toed-in about 1/2".  I used a ratchet strap and a long pipe( handle off my floor jack) and began trying to bent the gear in the needed direction.  After many tries, I'm finally to a point where the gear is toed-in about 1/4".  Man does that gear ever flex!  I bend it to where the pipe is pulled about 3" - 4", smack it a few times with a mallet, and then release it, maybe get a 1/16" change.  Is this the way you guys adjusted your gear?  I think I pulled something in my arm trying to get more tension on the strap.
    Any suggestions?  I'm pretty sure the tires should be parallel, or toed-out just a bit.
    Jack
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    • 984 views


  12. dholly added a post in a topic Verifying fuel tank size   

    Avid used two different f/g wing tank shapes with their 'fiberglass wrap' install method depending on the wing. I believe they were 14 gal for the Hauler/STOL rib profile and 18 gal for the Speed/Acrobat rib profile. 
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  13. Bandit added a post in a topic Verifying fuel tank size   

    Checked my Avid manual tank pictures, they look the same as yours. Three rib bays wide. I think these are 14 gallons.
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  14. Bandit added a post in a topic F7A   

    I set my flaps at 15. I did notice on landing with a little cross wind I ran out of flaperon.
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  15. C5Engineer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Verifying fuel tank size
    My airplane was originally a B model kit with speed wings. Halfway through the build the original builder bought a set of Hauler wings for it from somebody, after deciding against the speed wings. They have the factory tanks in them. I'm "assuming" they are 14 gallons a side like the books says. Were there any other variations out there that would lead me to believe otherwise? Also I have not touched them since I drained them for the recover. I want to flush them out before hooking them up to my system. Any thoughts on the best way to flush them without wasting 14 gallons of gas. I was thinking of filling them up with water to verify the quantity but not sure how long it would take for ALL the water to evaporate back out of the nooks and crannies in the bottom. I'm getting close to doing weight and balance and need to verify for my loaded CG calculations. Thanks as always.

    Here's about the best pic I have of the uncovered wing


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  16. akflyer added a post in a topic F7A   

    I set mine at 20.  With the new mixer, I dont think control reversal will be as much of an issue ( I use full flaps and it has not shown up here), however, I would not use full flpas on landing unless the wind is pretty mush straight down the runway.  The roll rate is affected my this much flaps.  I would set them for all you can get then go to altitude and see how she feels.  On gusty winds or cross winds, I dont use too much flap.


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  17. C5Engineer added a post in a topic F7A   

    Thanks Bandit... did you leave your flaps limited at 15 degrees or have you tried to go farther?
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  18. Bandit added a post in a topic F7A   

    My Bandit seemed to fly the best at about -1 or level.
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  19. C5Engineer added a post in a topic F7A   

    Leni what did you end up setting your flaperons to? I read it someplace but can't find it now. I think you said -2 or thereabouts....
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  20. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic AN Hardware   

    So he's financing his retirement by selling off the stuff he lifted from work one lunch-boxful at a time, huh...   

    I need to find one of those around here!
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  21. C5Engineer added a post in a topic AN Hardware   

    I caught wind of a guy in our local area that is a retired United guy. These days he sits in his garage and sells hardware and tells stories. He has everything imaginable. I bought every bolt for my wings, struts, elevator, elevator struts, a ton of cotter pins, and some other miscellaneous stuff for $35. Can't beat that!
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  22. dholly added a post in a topic AN Hardware   

    All the hardware supplied with my Avid+ kit came from www.spenceraircraft.com They will have everything you need at better than spruce prices.
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  23. Av8r3400 added a topic in Avid and Kitfox parts Suppliers   

    AN Hardware
    If a person were to need a bunch of AN hardware (bolts, nuts, washers, pins, etc.), who would your favorite supplier be and why?

    Obviously AC Spruce is the 800# gorilla in the room for this, but who else would you use?  Fastenal or other fastener supply type of place?  Somebody else?


    Thanks.
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    • 3,610 views


  24. Bandit added a post in a topic 'Nother new Member   

    I did a high speed taxi 30 some years ago in my T-craft when I was first learning to fly. I ended up in a standing corn field. I learned one thing, its balls to the walls or nothing.
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  25. C5Engineer added a post in a topic 'Nother new Member   

    My manual specifically states that there is no such thing as a high speed taxi with these airplanes. It's either slow and controlled or a take off roll. I can't wait till the first time I hit the firewall with mine. That day is drawing nearer!
    Joey
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